Frontline India wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha is set to miss the historic India-Afghanistan Test match with an injury sustained during the recently concluded Indian Premier League in 2018.
Saha, who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season, was hit on the thumb by a Shivam Mavi bouncer in the playoffs match against KKR, which later revealed to be a fracture. Earlier, Saha had missed six matches due to a shoulder injury and Goswami kept in his place.
Sources said Sunrisers Hyderabad had informed BCCI about Saha's injury a day before the final. "Saha has been advised rest as his medical report says he has a broken thumb and he can only play after 5-6 weeks," BCCI sources said.
Saha had also missed two Tests against South Africa earlier this year due to a major hamstring injury and Parthiv Patel took his place in both the matches. If Saha recovers in time, which is expected to take around six weeks, then he is expected to travel to England for the five-match series which starts on August 1.
The BCCI have now named the in-form Dinesh Karthik as his replacement for Saha.
UPDATE: Wriddhiman Saha ruled out of the @paytm Afghanistan Test.
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 2, 2018
The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named @DineshKarthik as the replacement. #INDvAFG #TeamIndia
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